Charlotte M. Hess

YORK - Charlotte M. (Paules) Hess, 96, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, satisfied that her life on planet Earth was complete. Charlotte, who was married to the late Jack Hess for 70 years before he died in 2016, missed her beloved and looked forward to a long-awaited rendezvous at the pearly gates.

Born November 25, 1927, in York, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Laurence R. and Estella E. (Gross) Paules. She was an excellent student who grew up with a love for reading, cooking, and sewing, and she had fond memories of time spent bowling, dancing and going to movies with her many girlfriends of the 1930s and ‘40s. As a high-school sophomore, Charlotte fell in love with Jack and enjoyed telling the story of how she chased that handsome man of her dreams until she caught him. During World War II, when Jack served aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater, Charlotte wrote to him nearly every day until he returned from service. They were married soon after.

Charlotte was a superstar of a mom, a multi-tasker and tactful mediator of sibling squabbles. She supported her children through all their successes and tough times, their good decisions and bad. She often spoke of her family’s “circle of love” that sustained them all through the years.

A skilled secretary who later became an office administrator with the state Department of Environmental Resources, Charlotte retired in 1988. With more time to enjoy the life they made together, she and Jack relished many trips to Ocean City, Maryland; Orlando, Disney World and the Florida beaches; and they celebrated their 50th anniversary on the Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Kauai, a gift from their children. One of her favorite memories was a family trip to the Outer Banks, N.C.

She is survived by her three daughters, Jennie Hess (husband Walter Benjamin) of Orlando, Fla., Cheryl Oare (husband Rich Raines) of Parrish, Fla., and Alison Davis (husband Earl Davis) of York; grandchildren Nathan Benjamin and Sam Benjamin, Lauren Oare, and Michaela Davis; and great-granddaughter, Mila Shay Calderiso. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Clarence, Roy, and Winfield Paules.

A Celebration of Life tribute service will be held at 12 noon April 26, 2024, at Faith United Church of Christ, 509 Pacific Ave., York, Pa., with Rev. Dr. Ron Oelrich officiating. A light luncheon will follow the service. Inurnment will be private at Greenmount Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Charlotte can be made to Faith United Church of Christ located at 509 Pacific Ave., York, PA 17404, or to the Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP) located at https://mylamp.org/donate/ which provided free audio books to Charlotte after she lost her vision.

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